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Friday Roundup — May 18, 2018

News Roundups are posted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning with quick hits on what you may have missed and what is still to come in The Beautiful Game.

Here’s what you may have missed and what is still developing. And, as always, here’s to helping bring you, the Fan, up to speed and Ahead of the Game.

Philadelphia Union

A slow news week is certainly nothing new to fans of the Philadelphia Union. But perhaps watching two of the Union’s youngest defenders, Auston Trusty and Mark McKenzie, eat saltine crackers as quick as possible is.

Look out later today for Philly Football Daily’s Match Preview of the Union’s match on Saturday, which analyzes the team’s matchup against Western Conference side Real Salt Lake.

Major League Soccer

Orlando Defender Credits MLS for World Cup Selection

Orlando City SC defender Amro Tarek, who has been a regular in the Lions’ backline this season, had no shortage of praise for Major League Soccer on Thursday.

Earlier, on Monday, Tarek was named to head coach Hector Cuper’s preliminary World Cup roster, to the disbelief of many Egypt fans.

Speaking to Egyptian outlet DMC Sports Channel Tarek discussed his experience in the North American first-division thus far, pointing to the league’s level of competition as reasoning for his shock call-up to the Egypt National Team.

“It is a very strong and competitive league and has a huge publicity,” Tarek said. “The fans [Egypt fans] need to grasp this.”

US Soccer

Bedoya: Vets Let Us Down

Union captain and United States National Team midfielder Alejandro Bedoya has never been one to hold back and keep his frustrations to himself.

Speaking with reporter Doug McIntyre of FC Yahoo, Bedoya opened up about the USMNT’s failure to qualify for Russia, specifically pointing to the contributions of the team’s veteran players.

“Bruce [Arena] gave us a game plan in that last game and we didn’t execute,” Bedoya said. “We had guys not getting stuck in. We were counting on an 18-year-old [Christian Pulisic] to carry the load for us. Other guys, the veteran guys, let us down I think.”

Carter-Vickers Pens Contract Extension With Tottenham

USMNT defender Cameron Carter-Vickers committed his future to English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, signing a contract with the North London side until 2021.

Carter-Vickers, 20, spent last club season on loan with English Championship sides Sheffield United and Ipswich Town.

CCV highlighted his loan spells as being beneficial in his growth as a player.

“I’m delighted to sign a new contract,” Carter-Vickers told Tottenham’s website. “I’ve worked hard out on loan this season, trying to get as many minutes and games as I could. I feel like I’ve improved as a player and it’s definitely benefited me.

“Now I’m looking to kick on. The next step for me is to come back for pre-season, get my head down, work hard and try to impress the manager and as many people as I can.”

Global

PSG Offer Buffon Contract

According to ESPN FC sources, Gianluigi Buffon, who announced his decision to leave Juventus on Thursday, has been offered a contract by French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG has, according to the source, already put a two-year deal on the table. Buffon, 40, will play his final match for Juventus against Hellas Verona on Saturday.

“Gigi” has remarkably spent the last 17 years playing for Juve. However, the loyal servant to Vecchia Signora has yet to rule out playing his club football elsewhere in Italy or in the world.

It is believed that the Parisians’ newly hired head coach Thomas Tuchel wants the veteran Buffon to serve as a mentor to the club’s budding French keeper Alphonse Areola. Areola is expected to stay in Paris next season as the club’s No. 1.

Buffon’s agent, Silvano Martina, has confirmed that there are several “attractive offers” on the table.

“There are certainly offers from clubs for Buffon, both on the field and off it, but he’s not decided yet,” Martina told Radio Sportiva. “Gigi didn’t want to talk about [who the clubs are] so I think it’s right that I don’t talk about it either. It’s right that he takes 10 days for reflection.”

Thanks for reading Friday’s News Roundup. Check back here, on Monday morning, for the latest happening in The Beautiful Game. Until then, Cheers.